Year’s top products make outdoors 10 times easier

From marathons to mountain climbs, 2008 proved to be another epic year for The Gear Junkie. But without the right apparel and equipment, these adventures would not have been possible — or at least not quite as fun. Here are 10 top products that helped make it happen.

1 Salomon Speedcross 2 winterized trail-running shoes — Insulated, with a unique “Winter Contagrip” sole featuring V-shape lugs made of a soft rubber, creating a pliable grip that gives traction by staying supple no matter the outside temp. ( www.salomon-sports.com, $110)

2 Light & Motion Seca 700 Race bike light — A top-end bike light that breaks a mold by bringing L.E.D. into a category previously dominated by old-school H.I.D. bulb lights. High price delivers a 100-foot window of virtual daylight burning ahead to ride aggressive single-track trails in the dead of night. ( www.bikelights.com, $550)

3 Jetboil Helios high-performance cook system — An all-in-one kit: pot, stove and fuel pack together. Offers convenience and high heat output. In my tests the hot burner boiled a cold liter of water in 2.5 minutes flat. ( www.jetboil.com, $150)

4 Duofold Varitherm base layers — A fine, non-itchy product line that performs with a wool-based wicking fabric that’s topped with a treatment called Dri-Release to further move moisture during activity in the outdoors. Half the price of its competition. ( www.duofold.com, starting at $39)

5 CamelBak Better Bottle — Made of a non-BPA polycarbonate alternative called copolyester. An industry bellwether to eliminating BPA from the outdoors-hydration category. ( www.camelbak.com, $8)

6 REI Shuksan and Kulshan — REI went out on a limb to become the first big-name national retailer to embrace eVent fabric, a primary competitor of Gore-Tex. The line of waterproof and breathable shells feature streamlined construction and minimal features at pricing that is fair for this type of expedition-quality outerwear. ( www.rei.com, $289)

7 Spyder D30 Armored L/S Crew molecularly-enhanced mountain biking wear — Features innovative shock-absorbing pads with special gel that locks hard into a rubbery medium upon impact then bounces back to its pliable state after the pressure is gone. ( www.spyder.com, $350)

8 SPOT Satellite Messenger — A locator beacon with GPS tracking that can send three types of messages:

•“I’m OK,” which is sent via satellite to your friends’ and family’s e-mails and cell phones;

• “I-need-assistance” message to the same group of family and friends;

• 911 button alerts local search-and-rescue, the Coast Guard, or other organizations.

( www.findmespot.com, $150 plus $100 annual service fee)

9 Kahtoola Microspikes — A lightweight alternative to crampons featuring 10 stainless steel spikes attached on a rubber noose that can be pulled over any shoe. At 7 ounces apiece, the grippers are light and small enough to ball up and put in a pocket. ( www.kahtoola.com, $59)

!0 Princeton Tec Swerve bike safety light — Twice as expensive as a regular rear red blinker bike light, but two bright L.E.D.s, almost guarantee you’ll be seen from behind. ( www.princetontec.com, $30.)